A Southport woman’s novel has been serialised on Radio 4’s popular Book at Bedtime programme.

Carys Bray’s A Song for Issy Bradley has already won rave reviews, and praise from best-selling authors such as Nick Hornby. The novel, which is set in Southport, is about how the death of a child affects a family. Carys, who grew up in Southport in a strict Mormon family, lost her own child 15 years ago.

Although religion and grief are the book’s dual themes, Carys is keen to point out that the novel is funny too.

She said: “That is the strange thing about grief, because life goes on, and you will laugh again. I did. Funny things happen, and this is true for my book too, which is funny and sad.”

Carys grew up in Marshside before leaving Southport at the age of 10 with her parents. She returned in her 20s and her children have, just like her, all passed through the gates of Marshside primary.

She added: “The nature reserve at Marshside always struck me as mysterious and interesting. The birds that swoop above you, and Southport beach too. The book begins and ends on the beach.”

Carys told the Visiter that officials from Sefton helped her with research about the coast. Although the novel is strongly rooted in Southport, there is also some ambiguity about geography. “I avoided name-checking streets and other place names. I have bent the rules a little. The family lives opposite a park with a lake, and in my mind that is Hesketh Park, but I do not say that.”

The novel has now been serialised by Radio 4. “They have edited the story for Book at Bedtime , so I am not what sure exactly how it will turn out. I can’t wait,” she said.

Carys was approached by a literary agent after winning an award for a collection of short stories. Several big-name publishers ended up competing for her novel. She said: “It was very exciting, and very strange to be fought over.”

Today she lives in High Park with her husband Neil and her four children. “I love Southport, and intend to set my next novel there too.”